The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Apr. 30, 2019
Filed:
Feb. 01, 2016
Ford Global Technologies, Llc, Dearborn, MI (US);
Linh N. Doan, Belleville, MI (US);
James P. Holland, Brighton, MI (US);
Kenneth S. Laird, Canton, MI (US);
Stacy L. Swank, Auburn Hills, MI (US);
Jeffrey B. Crist, Sterling Heights, MI (US);
Warwick J. Smith, Grosse Pointe Woods, MI (US);
Aileen N. Barraza, Canton, MI (US);
FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC, Dearborn, MI (US);
Abstract
A manufacturing method for a plastic-molded automotive interior trim component produces a curvilinear finished surface with a relatively flat portion and a relatively curved portion. A decorative film subcomponent is molded with a substantially smooth outer surface that is pigmented with a desired color of the finished surface. The decorative film subcomponent is placed into a mold having a film-receiving surface with a three-dimensional texture at both the relatively flat portion and the relatively curved portion. A structural backing member is in-mold laminated with the decorative film subcomponent by injecting molten plastic material against the inner surface of the decorative film subcomponent in the mold, wherein pressure of the molten plastic material expands the decorative film subcomponent to form an embossed pattern which is substantially uniform and undistorted covering at least part of the relatively flat portion and at least part of the relatively curved portion.